In the immediate aftermath of General Colin Powell's appearance on Meet The Press this morning, a couple of hardline GOP losers, Rush Limbaugh and George Will defined the announcement more by skin color than ideology.
The most crass and egregious interpretation came from GOP (water-carrier) Rush Limbaugh, who wrote to the Politico's Jonathan Martin the following statement:
http://www.politico.com/...
"Secretary Powell says his endorsement is not about race... OK, fine. I am now researching his past endorsements to see if I can find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed. I'll let you know what I come up with."
Shortly afterward, blowviating conservative columnist George Will on ABC's "This Week" also explained his own take on Powell's decision as part of a larger, more psychological sway that Obama held over other African Americans.
There will be "some impact,", "And I think this adds to my calculation -- this is very hard to measure -- but it seems to me if we had the tools to measure we'd find that Barack Obama gets two votes because he's black for every one he loses because he's black because so much of this country is so eager, a, to feel good about itself by doing this, but more than that to put paid to the whole Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson game of political rhetoric."
These two (conservative) clowns, Will and Limbaugh, just cannot keep their feet out of their mouths. Not only are they showing their ignorance, but they are doing so for the wrong cause. It's no surprise Rush Limbaugh would make these comments, but for George Will to agree legitimizes the rationalization of those who will not vote for Obama because he is Black and will use any excuse to cover their motives. More subtle race baiting to scare America.
To his credit, General Powell clearly addressed the question that some will have concerning (their) concern that this was a race based endorsement and Tom Brokaw posed the direct question to Powell.
Moderator Tom Brokaw said: "There will be some ... who will say this is an African-American, distinguished American supporting another African-American because of race."
Powell, who last year gave Republican John McCain's campaign the maximum $2,300, replied: "If I had only had that in mind, I could have done this six, eight, 10 months ago. I really have been going back and forth between somebody I have the highest respect and regard for, John McCain, and somebody I was getting to know, Barack Obama. And it was only in the last couple of months that I settled on this."
"I can't deny that it will be a historic event when an African-American becomes president," Powell continued, speaking live in the studio. "And should that happen, all Americans should be proud — not just African-American, but all Americans — that we have reached this point in our national history where such a thing could happen. It would also not only electrify the country, but electrify the world."
So How does George Will Respond? I would hope that the next time General Powell and George Will are on the same program, General Powell will directly reprimand George Will for all people to hear and see. George Will deserves some comeuppance for his outrageous declaration:
Now, as for Rush Limbaugh's unapologetic racial remarks, in my opinion, General Powell should dismiss Limbaugh's statement for exactly what it is...racist! He should cite exactly what he said about his party's neo ultra rightwing leanings, just as he did on Meet The Press this morning.
Furthermore, Limbaugh made Powell's point for him. This type of thinking is exactly what is diminishing the Republican party. Powell made an impassioned and eloquent statement about unity, and moving past division and stereotyping...and without giving these words a second thought, some, like Limbaugh and Will on the far right have already jumped on the racial solidarity bandwagon. This is the same man that the Republicans including the afforementioned Will and Limbaugh, have been touting for years...and he has a reputation on both the left and the right of being above partisan politics and has served in both Democratic and Republican administrations.